Enlarge ImageRequest to buy this photoCurtis Compton | Associated PressKobe Bryant said that the ankle sprain he suffered last night against the Atlanta Hawks is the worst of his 16-year career in the NBA.

ATLANTA -- Kobe Bryant has been playing some of his best basketball since the All-Star break,
almost single-handedly pushing the Los Angeles Lakers into the playoff race. Now he's facing what
might be his toughest opponent of the season.

Bryant is out indefinitely with what he calls the worst sprained ankle of his 16-year NBA
career, crumpling to the court with 3 seconds remaining after missing a shot in a 96-92 loss to the
Atlanta Hawks last night.

Though X-rays were negative, the Lakers sounded pessimistic about Bryant's chances of playing
soon, an especially tough blow with just 16 games left in the regular season and Los Angeles
clinging to a half-game lead over Utah for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Bryant tweeted this morning that he was undergoing treatment on his ailing left ankle while
watching movie after movie.

"Compression. Ice. Django. Zero Dark Thirty. This is Forty and 1 hour of sleep," he wrote.
"On to the next."

Bryant wouldn't speculate on how long he might be out.

"I'll just do what I have to do," the 34-year-old said after limping out of Philips Arena.

Given where the Lakers came from, just making the postseason would be quite an
accomplishment. They were 20-26 at the end of January but have won 14 of 20. That includes a 9-3
run since the All-Star break, with Bryant averaging 30.3 points a game during that span.

The loss in Atlanta snapped a four-game winning streak. It might hurt longer than a single
night.

With the Lakers trailing 94-92, Bryant drove to the baseline and pulled up for a jumper. The
ball slid off the rim, and Bryant's left foot twisted awkwardly when it came down on the right foot
of defender Dahntay Jones.

No foul was called, but the Lakers star accused Jones of playing dirty, saying he slid
underneath Bryant as he was coming down.

"That's a shot I'm very comfortable taking," said Bryant, who is averaging 27.5 points a game
overall. "You just can't go under these shooters, man. It's a dangerous play."